Track supporting means

ABSTRACT

A supporting means for a track rail which in turn supports rotatable wheels secured to the base of a movable stack or storage means. The supporting means includes a flat strip of metal which is fastened to the floor and is formed with two vertically extending bars for positioning a metal rail between them. A bead is formed on the inside surface of each bar for engaging the sides of the rail, and a longitudinal channel is formed in the middle of the strip for equalizing the weight distribution of the rail.

United States Patent Mastronardi Jan. 14, 1975 [54] TRACK SUPPORTING MEANS 3,618,851 11/1971 Smith et al 238/281 [75] Inventor: g sg ggz g' x f Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.

Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch [73] Assignee: Estey Corporation, Red Bank, NJ. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Heilman, Heilman & 22 Filed: Sept. 24, 1973 Casena [21] Appl. No.: 399,706 [57] ABSTRACT I A supporting means for a track rail which in turn sup- 52 us. Cl 238/304, 238/148, 238/265 10rtS rotatable Wheels Secured m the base a [51] Int. Cl E0lb 9/42 able Stack Storage mums The Supporting mums [58] Field of Search 238/265 287 292 300, cludes a flat strip of metal which is fastened to the 238/304 307, 10 8 floor and is formed with two vertically extending bars Y for positioning a metal rail between them. A bead is [56] References Cited formed on'the inside surface of each bar for engaging the sides of the rail, and a longitudinal channel is 2 076 469 i 238/265 formed in the middle of the strip for equalizing the l e ec a e weight distribution of the rail. 2,140,217 12/1938 Armstrong 238/304 7 v 3,199,855 8/1965 Miller l 238/10 R 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 3,566,048 2/1971 Martin 238/304 PATENTEU 3,860,171

SHEET 20F 2 TRACK SUPPORTING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The supporting means is designed to hold a rail which supports wheels attached to heavy loads such as a li-- brary bookcase or a stack containing shelves for holding reserve parts. The cushioning of the rails has been a problem because the weight; of the supported memhers is considerable and because, in many cases, the floor under the supports is not too strong. The present invention includes a clamp for the rail and is formed with wide metal strips designed to distribute the weight on the rail to a wide floor area. I

After the rail supports are placed in predetermined positions, a grout or cement mix is placed under the strip and in contact with the floor. After hardening, the rail is snapped into place and the movable stacks can be positioned; The grout distributes the force of the stacks over a wide sectionalarea and reduces the tendency to rupture. Y

A feature of the invention is the ability of the supporting strip to retain the rail in an operating position without the use of nails, bolts, or other fastening means. Another feature of the invention is the small space required for installing the support.

SUMMARY The track supporting means includes a generally flat strip of metal which is fastened to the surface of afloor', secured and supported by grout or cement. Two vertically extending bars, formed integral with the flat strip hold a rail in place.v Each ofthe bars is formed with an inwardly extending bead for engaging the rail and :a longitudinal channel is formed in the middle of the strip so that the weight of the rail is applied to the edges-of the channel to distribute the weight of the rail over a wider base area. 7

Other features and additional details of the invention will be disclosed in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI-IE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the support means, taken along a median plane of a wheel on the track.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the support means.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the support means.

FIG. 4 is a view of the support means fastened to a concrete floor by a nail and resting on a shim.

FIG. 5 is a view of the support means fastened as shown in FIG. 4 but made level with a tile floor-by the addition of plywood panels.

FIG. 6 is a view of the support means fastened 'to a base concrete floor and surrounded by an'added concrete layer and a tile surface.

FIG. 7 is another view of the support means fastened as shown in FIG. 4.but surrounded by plywood panels and carpeting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the figures, the support means '10 includes a flat strip 11 in three sections 11A, 11B, and 11C. Two bars 12 and '13 extend upwardly from the strip 11 and are formed with a longitudinal bead 14'on the inside surfaces of the bars for holding a rail 15in resilientengagement. Each bar 12,13 is also provided with a flange 16 to add strength to the bars.

A rotatable wheel 17 is shown on the rail 15 having a bearing 18, and supporting members 20. The'wheel 17 may be turned by a shaft 21 to move a heavy load along the rail. Any type of wheel can be used with the rail and its support.

1 The strip' 11 is formed in three part-s to provide a channel above portion 1 1B and two shoulders on which the rail 15 rests. This construction distributes the force of the weight of the -rail and its load to two portions, each portion further distributed to the strips 11A, 11B, and 11C. The support means 10 is held in place by a grout or cement till 22, and fastenings applied to the base floor 23. The edges formed by the sides of strip 118 cooperate to maintain the support means in longitudinal alignment.

When the support means is first installed, the support means is placed in position on the floor, shimmed and fastened to the floor and held so that the top surfaces of strip portions are in level horizontal plane. Then grout 22, or cement of any 'kind, is applied under the support means as indicated in FIG. .1, filling all air pockets to produce a solid bearing fill. When the grout 22 has hardened, rail 15 is snapped into place and the combination is ready for the wheels and the load they support.

The cross sectional view shown in FIG. 4 illustrates how the support means can be used on a concrete floor without any removal of concrete. First, the support means is leveled on the floor by adding metal shims 25. Second, a series of nails 26 is driven through the base of the support means to secure the'track to the floor and third, grout 22 is deposited under the side strips and allowed to harden. Thislis the most inexpensive method of installation.

FIG. 5 shows how the support means can be installed in a tiled floor with a base of concrete and a sub-base of plywood. Again the support means'l l is leveled with under the side strips and the plywoodfiooring 27 is nailed to wooden strips (not shown) so that the bottom surface of the plywood 27 overlies the side strips' of the support means 11. Tile 28 of any form or material may beaddedto the top surface of the plywood panel's.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate construction wherein a layer of concrete 30 is added after the support means 11 has been secured to the floor by shims 25 and nails 26. Tile .28 may be added to the concrete 30 to bring the level of the tile up to the level of the added rail 15.

FIG. '7 is the same as FIG. 5 except that pile carpet .31 is added to the plywood instead of tile.

The support means is preferably'made of metal, such as aluminum alloy. Since no parts of the support are in v direct contact with the rolling wheels there is no wear,

into a load bearing position comprising: a generally flat strip of metal for setting into the surface of a floor; two vertically extending bars formed integral with theflat strip for positioning a metal rail therebetween; each of said bars formed with an inwardly extending bead for engaging the sides of the rail; a longitudinal channel formed in the middle of the strip for equalizing the weight distribution applied to the 'rail; an outwardly extending flange formed integrally on each of the bars to add strength to the bars; and a supporting quantity of grout positioned under each of said flanges for holding the rail is resilient engagement.

2. A track support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support is made of aluminum alloy.

3. A track support as claimed'in claim 1 wherein said flat strip is formed with three flat underside surfaces thereby defining two downwardly extending edges for engaging cemented supporting material to restrain sideways motion of the strip.

4. A track supportas claimed in claim 1 wherein shims are positioned under the center portion of the support means to level the track.

5. A track supporting means as claimed in claim 1 wherein holes are provided in the center portion of the support means for anchoring the track to a floor by means of nails.

6. A track supporting means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outwardly extending flanges are covered by a concrete slab which is used as a secondary floor.

7. A track supporting means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outwardly extending flanges support portions of a secondary floor above the base floor.

8. A track supporting means as claimed in claim 7 wherein said secondary floor is made of fibrous material and is covered by a wear resistant covering.

9. A track supporting means as claimed in claim 8 wherein said wear resistant covering is tile and wherein by the supporting means. 

1. A track supporting means for clamping a track rail into a load bearing position comprising: a generally flat strip of metal for setting into the surface of a floor; two vertically extending bars formed integral with the flat strip for positioning a metal rail therebetween; each of said bars formed with an inwardly extending bead for engaging the sides of the rail; a longitudinal channel formed in the middle of the strip for equalizing the weight distribution applied to the rail; an outwardly extending flange formed integrally on each of the bars to add strength to the bars; and a supporting quantity of grout positioned under each of said flanges for holding the rail is resilient engagement.
 2. A track support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support is made of aluminum alloy.
 3. A track support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flat strip is forMed with three flat underside surfaces thereby defining two downwardly extending edges for engaging cemented supporting material to restrain sideways motion of the strip.
 4. A track support as claimed in claim 1 wherein shims are positioned under the center portion of the support means to level the track.
 5. A track supporting means as claimed in claim 1 wherein holes are provided in the center portion of the support means for anchoring the track to a floor by means of nails.
 6. A track supporting means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outwardly extending flanges are covered by a concrete slab which is used as a secondary floor.
 7. A track supporting means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outwardly extending flanges support portions of a secondary floor above the base floor.
 8. A track supporting means as claimed in claim 7 wherein said secondary floor is made of fibrous material and is covered by a wear resistant covering.
 9. A track supporting means as claimed in claim 8 wherein said wear resistant covering is tile and wherein the top surface of the tile is level with the rail supported by the supporting means. 